b'CONTENT MARKETINGWHY YOU NEED TO GET A PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOTLesley Nakonechny,Graphic Designer, Create by Issues Inklnakonechny@issuesink.comissuesink.comAS A GRAPHIC DESIGNER, Im often sent headshots to usefrom a stylist who looked unkept or kept their station in our magazines or online. Ive seen some great photosmessy? You mightbut only once, I bet.cross my desk, as well as some cringe-worthy ones.Earlier this year, I decided to get new headshots taken, Things like poor lighting, smartphone selfies, and poorlyeven though I didnt have an urgent need for them, and cropped wedding photos all make you look unprofes- couldve easily justified not spending the time or money. sional. Then I found out I got accepted into a week-long artist So, why are professionally taken headshots so impor- residency this summer; the organization neededyou tant when you can simply get your buddy with a digitalguessed itmy headshot for a press release. It felt great camera to take a photo of you? A pro knows their craftthat I had one handy to send. composition, lighting, and how to pose a subject. ItsUnsure where to start if you dont have a headshot? their job to make you look great. Professionals (like you,Theres always Google, but you could ask colleagues remember?) seek out other professionals because theywithin your networks if they have a photographer they know the ins and outs of the job. could recommend. Remember to try and get a good sleep A headshot is also your first impressiontake a lookthe night before your photoshoot, wear clothes suited for at your current LinkedIn photo; are you still using thatyour industry (and get that dress shirt ironed if thatsheadshot from that wedding party you were in years ago?part of it), and consider having your hair done on theThat photo is part of your brand, similar to how a logo isday of. I know, it sounds over-the-top, but your first to your business. Consider this: would you get a haircutimpression counts!PLANT BREEDINGWHY I TOOK THE FLAX BREEDING SHOW ON THE ROADHelen Booker,Flax Breeder, Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewanhelen.booker@usask.ca@usaskplschttp://agbio.usask.ca/cdcI JUST GOT back from a trip to Japan working with flaxCDC Sorrel was released in 2005 and is to this day the breeders. As the breeder for Western Canadas onlymost popular variety in Western Canada.remaining flax breeding program, I was there to learnI released CDC Glas in 2014 and it is now No. 2about how Japanese flax breeders work with an importantalmost tied with Sorrel. Having Gordon as a mentor was crop that might fall under many peoples radar, but whichone of the greatest experiences of my career and taught is a hugely important commodity globally. me how important flax is to Canada and the world.A significant percentage of Canadian flax goes to Asia.Because my flax breeding program is the only one in Networking with international flax breeders has becomeWestern Canada, its crucial to work with international an important part of my job since I decided to take thecolleagues. They have much to teach us about the next western Canadian flax show on the road, so to speak. frontier in flax breedingsolving the straw problem.Flax breeding in Canada has had a long history, start- Its no secret among flax growers that flax straw is ing at the beginning of the 1900s with a federal programnotoriously hard to deal with. France is one of the largest operating out of Ottawaone of the first registeredproducers of fibre flax in the world. They phenotype for Canadian flax cultivars was called Ottawa. The programstem fibre traits to reduce stem strength, which would eventually moved to Manitoba. help solve a lot of issues with straw management in the Flax breeding at the Crop Development Centre startedCanadian production system.in the late 1970s with breeder Dr. Gordon Rowland. ItTaking the flax show on the road could help us con-became an important crop in Saskatchewan and through- quer the next frontier in this crop, but a lot of work still out the Prairies. needs to be done in order to incorporate these traits into Gordon released a number of good varieties thatnew varieties that will grow well in Canada. The CDC are still in commercial production. CDC Bethune wasflax breeding program is uniquely positioned to do this.released in 1998 and remains the third most popular vari-ety in Western Canada. SEPTEMBER 2019GERMINATION.CA 25'